Woodland Stage, Dens and Sod's Law...

When we ran a literacy project last year, we could never have anticipated what a fabulous resource our woodland 'tree' stage would become.
Especially surprising is the way our regular groups - who are very school averse and highly suspicious of anything which could be construed as coercion to learn - relish the opportunities to make up plays and perform them..

The stage is very popular with two of the girls who often perform dances or complicated plays on the themes of death, crime and marriage. But this week I was fascinated to see two of the more marginal group members persuading the most senior group member to join in with their plans. This lad had come to us for a year, had then gone to college for year 10 but hadn't settled and had begged to be allowed to come back to forest school. He has numerous positive qualities. He is a hard and skilled worker but he does struggle to even write his name.

So imagine the scene. We had three book and drama hating boys, two of them severely ASD, interacting, collaborating and communicating with no adult interference, utterly engaged and preparing a Greek myth themed play. Beneath the dappled autumn sunshine. Fabulous.

There was no skimping on the acting either- the raised voices were all part of the drama. By home time they were euphoric with excitement at the possibilities. They were mentally selling tickets for sell out performances. No doubt before the final performance I will be given a costume list, something I insist is written down so I can't forget.. Ha ha.. tricked someone else into WRITING!.

The rest of the group are engrossed with dens. I have been trying to interest them in dens for ages but suddenly the time was right and they wanted to. Although they will reluctantly follow our stipulation that everyone needs to help with jobs until break time, the last couple of weeks they have done so grudgingly as they are so keen to get on with their shelters. These have become highly complex creations with multiple entrances, rooms and booby traps. They have offered to transport me by wheelbarrow up the hill for a closer inspection but I have declined for now..I am hoping my crutch technique will progress to competence on steeper slopes soon.

There is also a current and frankly perverse, vogue in the group for wearing high visibility jackets and hard hats. They are intended for when we go on walks using the road (when mostly bribery is required to persuade anyone to wear them) but suddenly everyone wants to wear them and we have even had to buy extra hard hats.

One of the key features of forest school is participant led learning. When we plan our sessions we tailor them to the interests and preferences of the group. However the last few weeks have re-enforced something I've always known. It is highly unlikely they will want to do what you want them to do when you want them to do it. If they want to do it, and have thought of it for themselves, the focus and enthusiasm will be there. Be patient, flexible and sensitive. Be prepared to plant a seed and have it lie dormant until the moment when you least expect it to germinate. And when it does germinate, you may well be rather surprised by what emerges...